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All hands on deck on the defensive line

To say the help wanted sign is out at the defensive tackle position is an understatement. Tennessee is heading down the SEC stretch without defensive tackles Danny O'Brien (dismissed), Kahlil McKenzie (pectoral surgery), and Shy Tuttle (knee).

Even last Saturday's walk on hope, Paul Bain is likely out with an ankle sprain.

That's why offensive guard Charles Mosley was moved to defensive tackle this week. It why LaTroy Lewis is getting practice reps inside at defensive tackle along with junior college transfer Jonathan Kongbo.

“Trying to find big able bodies,” head coach Butch Jones said. “That's been the theme this year with our football team as we all know we have had a lot of adversities and we are down a number of defensive tackles. Just trying to find individuals that can help the team win and try to give us an opportunity. This is a very, very physical football team that is obviously going to want to establish the line of scrimmage with everything that they do. Just trying to create depth across the front.”

Whether it's inside or outside the Vols need more from Kongbo who has played more outside than inside the last two couple of weeks.

"Everyone develops differently," Jones said. "It's like raising children. Everyone is a little bit ahead in some ways. It's just understanding that goes into it. I care about Jonathan deeply and he is a great kid. It's our job to educate him just like it is Marquez Callaway and Marcus Tatum and all of those guys."

Also asked to help on the defensive interior are players like Kyle Phillips, Dimarya Mixon and Latroy Lewis. It can be a challenge, but to a man they are up for it.

"It's difficult," Lewis said. "It's extremely difficult, but at the same time we have talked about Kyle Phillips before and his unselfishness. The team first mentality. As difficult as it is, I think about how hard it is for the other two guys on the field as well. We all know that we have to get it done for the other ten people. It's difficult to play undersized, but the way coach Strip coaches and teaches technique has been preparing for this with the way he cross trains."

Will Warrior start?

One of the players that everyone continues to clamor for more of is safety Nigel Warrior. After glowing about him on Monday, Jones was more noncommittal when asked if Warrior would be the starter opposite Todd Kelly Jr. on Saturday.

"We'll see on Nigel," Jones said. "Again, we've had two practices and he missed a little bit of practice yesterday with some things he had to have done with a tooth. He was back out there late and he'll practice later today. We will see, but we have a lot of confidence in him just like we do everyone back there. We will know more as the week concludes."

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